Manchester United planted one foot in the EFL Cup Final with a 2-0 win over Hull City.

It was their ninth straight win under Jose Mourinho who is now moulding the Old Trafford giants into the team he wants.

Here’s David McDonnell’s view of the new-look United as he reported in the Daily Mirror ...

This is unmistakably Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United now, after a ninth straight win put them on the brink of the EFL Cup Final.

But it was goals from two men signed by the much-maligned David Moyes – who lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford – that saw the Reds plant one foot on the Wembley turf.

(Image: PA Wire)

Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini scored the goals that will give Mourinho a shot at a fourth League Cup triumph – and a first trophy as United manager - next month, to stand alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough.

Despite the 2-0 win over visitors Hull, however, Mourinho was in no mood to celebrate, berating his players for celebrating Mata’s goal with half-an-hour left, and the crowd for a perceived lack of enthusiasm.

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Against that backdrop, the Tigers deserved huge credit for limiting United to one goal until Fellaini effectively killed the tie with his looping header, which was followed by a touchline embrace with Mourinho.

If Mourinho was concerned about a lack of atmosphere, his cleverly-timed post-match message surely ensured there will be no such worries for Sunday’s visit of arch-rivals Liverpool, where the air will be thick with acrimony and the decibel level as high as it can go.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Here, however, it was a different story; a tepid performance from United, who were always in command but never needed to hit top gear against spirited but ultimately inferior opponents.

They made a blistering start and could have been ahead after just 90 seconds, Matteo Darmian finding Mata, whose first-time shot was palmed away superbly by Eldin Jakupovic.

Hull could ill-afford to lose any more players, but were forced into a change in the 16th minute when Marcus Henriksen suffered a shoulder injury.